40 Artisans Help Adorn the Kaaba with New Kiswa

Holy Kaaba gets a new Kiswa. Asharq Al-Awsat
Holy Kaaba gets a new Kiswa. Asharq Al-Awsat
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40 Artisans Help Adorn the Kaaba with New Kiswa

Holy Kaaba gets a new Kiswa. Asharq Al-Awsat
Holy Kaaba gets a new Kiswa. Asharq Al-Awsat

Millions on Wednesday evening watched the draping of the new Kiswa over the Kaaba in Makkah, in accordance with the annual Hajj tradition.

Hisham Aladdin, the general manager of the Kaaba Kiswa factory, said that 40 artisans have taken upon themselves the installation of the new Kiswa while taking into account social distancing and health measures.

Before attempting to change the Kiswa of the Kaaba, the artisans were tested for the coronavirus and got a clearance.

Speaking to Asharq Al-Awsat, Aladdin revealed that the new Kiswa weighs 1,300 kilograms.

The Kiswa was transferred from the King Abdul Aziz Complex on Wednesday evening.

The Kiswa is made of natural silk that is dyed black. It is also six and a half meters high and three meters and a half wide.

It is adorned with Quranic verses and Islamic motifs, and with a prominent embroidery covered with silver wires coated with gold.

The Kiswa consists of five pieces, each piece covers one side of the Kaaba, and the fifth piece is the curtain that is placed on the door of the Kaaba, and these pieces are then tied to each other.



Arab, Islamic, African Mechanism Established to Support Palestinian Cause

Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan (Reuters)
Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan (Reuters)
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Arab, Islamic, African Mechanism Established to Support Palestinian Cause

Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan (Reuters)
Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan (Reuters)

The Arab League, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), and the African Union (AU) signed a tripartite agreement on Monday to support the Palestinian cause, during the Arab-Islamic Summit in Riyadh.

The move was praised by the summit, especially for the African Union’s strong position on the issue.

According to information obtained by Asharq Al-Awsat, the mechanism will be coordinated through the organizations’ secretariats. Representatives will meet regularly to align their positions and strengthen their influence in international forums.

Joint coordination meetings will be held soon to finalize the details of the agreement.

Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan welcomed the cooperation, noting that the three organizations will now speak with one voice internationally, instead of through individual bilateral talks.

Arab League Secretary-General Ahmed Aboul Gheit added that while Arab-African and Arab-Islamic cooperation already exists, this is the first time an agreement has united the three organizations on this issue.

He said the agreement will expand cooperation and set a clear strategy moving forward.